Rabih Merhy
Cluster Director of IT
Dubai
Summary
Dedicated Hospitality professional with a history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Cluster Director of IT
Marriott Marquis Dubai & Hilton Dubai Creek
12.2023 - Current
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Implemented innovative solutions to solve complex problems, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined operations.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential clients to drive business development.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
- Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
- Assisted with sales and marketing strategies to foster achievement of revenue goals.
- Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Managed daily operations while overseeing multiple locations to foster increased productivity.
- Evaluated employee performance objectively using established metrics, leading to fair compensation adjustments based on meritocracy principles.
- Drove business expansion by identifying new markets, conducting research, and developing targeted marketing campaigns.
- Boosted client satisfaction rates through exceptional relationship management and prompt resolution of issues.
- Optimized staff performance by designing comprehensive training programs tailored to individual needs.
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Secured key partnerships that contributed to the company''s overall growth strategy and market reach.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Leveraged data analytics insights for informed decision-making in critical areas such as sales forecasting, budgeting, or personnel management.
- Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Spearheaded successful product launches that resulted in increased brand visibility and customer acquisition.
- Evaluated company documentation to verify alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Strengthened internal controls by reviewing existing policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Increased company revenue by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
- Optimized operational processes using analytics tools to address client-specific metrics.
- Monitored expenditures to mitigate risk of overages.
- Evaluated scripts to identify creative strategies and resource needs.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors for reduced costs and improved service quality.
- Drafted and distributed reports to assist board members with critical business decisions.
- Oversaw supply chain functions to verify inventory levels and budget adherence.
- Championed corporate social responsibility initiatives that enhanced the company''s reputation in the community and industry at large.
- Selected favorable filming locations and attained required permits to support shoot schedule.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Identified and qualified customer needs and negotiated and closed profitable projects with high success rate.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Updated and resolved incidents and managed accessorial charges objectively while maximizing profit.
Cluster Director of IT
Amwaj Rotana JBR, Arjaan Media City, Centro Barsha
07.2017 - 12.2023
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Implemented innovative solutions to solve complex problems, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined operations.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential clients to drive business development.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
Director of Information Technology
Amwaj Rotana
7 2014 - 07.2017
- Oversee and administer company platforms, technology and strategies
- Identify information system enhancements that will improve business and support future business needs
- Plan, direct, manage and oversee the activities and operations of the IT Department; administer the IT budget, staff and physical facilities of the department.
- Cultivated highly-regarded technology services organization that sustained culture of respect, collective pride and individual and group professional development.
- Developed and implemented technical application support and information technology policies and procedures that advanced investment needs, outcomes and performance measurements to balance continuous innovation with responsible risk-taking.
- Oversaw the selection, implementation, and integration of new enterprise software applications that streamlined business processes across multiple departments.
- Implemented, created and tested disaster recovery and business continuity plans and maintained appropriate back-up system.
- Promoted employee skill development by creating targeted training programs that addressed both current needs and future technology trends within the industry.
- Streamlined IT operations by implementing efficient processes and automation tools, leading to reduced downtime and improved productivity.
- Developed cross-functional relationships with other departments to better understand their technology needs and deliver tailored solutions that supported business objectives.
- Spearheaded the adoption of advanced analytics tools within the organization, enabling data-driven decision making and increased competitive advantage.
- Championed digital transformation initiatives across the organization by promoting the adoption of new technologies that enhanced operational efficiency.
- Implemented an effective data backup and disaster recovery plan to minimize potential losses due to unforeseen events or security breaches.
- Fostered positive working environment that encouraged innovation, collaboration and accountability and managed end-user needs with functional and security responsibilities.
- Successfully managed large-scale IT projects from inception through completion while adhering to strict timelines and budget constraints.
- Developed and maintained service level agreements for strategic applications and measured performance against objectives.
- Optimized IT budget allocation by identifying cost-saving opportunities and reallocating resources towards high-impact projects.
- Implemented a robust IT governance framework that ensured compliance with industry regulations, reduced risks, and improved overall system security.
- Prioritized framework to evaluate technology and regulate communication with business stakeholders.
- Documented and analyzed processes and procedures and adhered to regulatory guidance.
- Identified opportunities for application optimization, redesign and development and troubleshot and resolved user and application issues.
- Established performance metrics for the IT department to monitor progress against objectives, enabling continuous improvement initiatives.
- Deployed, monitored and maintained system installation, upgrades and network integration.
- Developed, tracked, and controlled information technology operating budgets and cost and benefit analyses for IT spending initiatives.
Director of IT
Yas Island Rotana And Centro Yas Island
07.2011 - 07.2014
- Coordinated large-scale technology migrations to minimize disruption while enhancing overall system capabilities.
- Managed the procurement process for IT hardware and software, ensuring timely delivery of necessary equipment to support ongoing projects.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, securing cost-effective services for the organization''s IT needs.
- Established IT policies and procedures, fostering a secure and efficient work environment for all employees.
- Developed performance metrics to evaluate IT department success and identify areas for potential improvement.
- Optimized existing systems through regular evaluations, making necessary adjustments to improve functionality and user experience.
- Enhanced IT infrastructure by implementing strategic technology upgrades and streamlining system processes.
- Conducted regular audits of hardware inventory to ensure proper asset management across the organization''s technology infrastructure.
- Developed comprehensive disaster recovery plans, ensuring business continuity in case of unforeseen events or emergencies.
- Championed employee training programs on new technologies, empowering staff members to adapt quickly to changes in the industry landscape.
- Streamlined helpdesk operations by implementing standardized ticketing systems for more effective issue resolution.
- Evaluated emerging technologies for their potential impact on organizational goals, recommending viable solutions as needed.
- Fostered a culture of continuous improvement within the IT department through ongoing professional development opportunities for staff members.
- Reduced downtime and improved overall system performance by proactively addressing potential issues with network maintenance.
- Managed a team of IT professionals, providing mentorship and guidance to boost productivity and ensure project success.
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of innovative software solutions, resulting in increased operational efficiency.
- Implemented cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive company data and maintain compliance with industry standards.
- Oversaw budget management for the IT department, allocating resources effectively while minimizing costs where possible.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to provide optimal technology support for various departments within the company.
- Facilitated seamless communication between IT personnel and other departments, promoting collaboration on key projects.
- Identified computer hardware and network system issues, performing troubleshooting techniques for remediation.
- Oversaw development and implementation of improvements to support network operations.
- Analyzed network security and current infrastructure, assessing areas in need of improvement.
- Led technical upgrade projects for clients by working and coordinating with consultants and developers for integrations.
- Managed life cycle replacement of hardware and software.
- Wrote strategic business plans outlining need for departmental information technology resources.
- Communicated regularly with customers concerning data exchange and technology integration.
- Implemented and maintained technology and software budget.
- Coordinated secure system access of users to various department systems and platforms.
- Liaised with other departments to minimize network interruptions and possible downtimes.
Director of Information Technology, Assistant Director of IT
Rotana Yas Island and Centro Yas Island
05.2010 - 07.2011
- Responsible for overseeing and managing the IT operations of the hotel
- Installation and configuration of VMware Vsphere, EMC VNX storage, and VEEAM backup solution
- Redesigning the CCTV recording system and implementing cloud storage.
IT coordinator
Gefinor Rotana Hotel
04.2009 - 04.2010
- Responsible for providing IT support and troubleshooting for the hotel
- Managing Windows XP, Active Directory, ISA server, and backup systems.
IT Staff Assistance
Raouche Arjaan by Rotana
09.2009 - 10.2009
- Assisted in various IT tasks including Cisco call manager, IP phones, Active Directory, DNS, ISA server, and hotel software.
Technician
Prime Reference
04.2009 - 04.2009
- Repairing computer hardware and software
- Network installation in two companies.
Technician
Smart Waves
12.2008 - 03.2009
- Repairing computer hardware and software
- Network installation and configuration of ISA server and Windows Server 2003.
IT Department
MATELEC GHORFINE
06.2007 - 08.2007
- Worked on VB.net, server migration, and computer migration.
Education
BS in Information Technology -
U.S.E.K_Kaslik Lebanon
High school (life science) - undefined
Ecole Sainte Famille des Sœurs Maronites Batroun, Lebanon
Skills
Project Management
Coursework
- 01/30/14, 02/01/14, ITIL Foundation training course, Formatech, Dubai, UAE, ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management
- 12/04/13, VMware Data Centre Virtualizaton, VMware Learning Centre, Online, VCA - DCV Certified
- 05/19/13, 05/25/13, VMware Vsphere 5: Install, configure, Manage: ESXi 5.1 & vCentre server 5.1, Global Knowledge Dubai, Dubai, VCP5 Certified
Roles And Responsibilities
- Develop Information Technology strategy to align Information Technology objectives and programs to enterprise objectives and strategies
- Oversee and monitor the operations of the Information Technology and systems to ensure a smooth operation and high availability
- Ensure technology is accessible and equipped with recent hardware and software to ensure high resources performance and to achieve the highest levels of performance, security, and availability while minimizing the costs and impacts to the operation
- Establish strategic service provider partnerships to ameliorate service level and support
- Develop contingency and disaster recovery plans for all systems to ensure high level of business continuity
- Direct, develop and motivate the Information Technology Employee to ensure efficiency and team work spirit
- Continually seek opportunities to increase internal & external Guest satisfaction to achieve the Hotel targets in RGSS and RESS
- Develop policy and procedures to guarantee data and assets availability, integrity and security as per the company standards and ensure business continuity
- Prepare and manage the annual operating and capital budgets for Information and Technology systems for cost efficiency and quality control
- Complete and distribute a monthly activities report to Area Director of Information Technology and General Manager for effective communication
- Operate in a safe and environmentally friendly way to protect guests’ and employees’ health and safety, as well as protect and conserve the environment
- Comply with the hotel environmental, health and safety policies and procedures
- Cisco call manger: maintenance of call manager, adds phones, create phone services, add analog phones, assign speed dials for analog phones, configure VG ports, and troubleshoot phone problems.
- Cisco switch: basic knowledge on Cisco switches configuration (configure ports, VLAN…)
- Opera – SUN – FBM – Micros: hotel software (installation + configuration + maintenance)
- Ving Card – Dialock: configure and make cards for rooms and lock doors.
- Symantec Backup Exec: configure and schedule backup (daily, weekly and monthly backup), prepare tapes; troubleshoot in case of backup errors.
- Guest internet Support: troubleshoot guest internet problems (Tiger IP and Nomadix Gateway)
- Windows XP, 7 & 8 troubleshooting - Domain Active directory Win2003, Win 2008 and WIN 2012 Server - ISA server – TMG Forefront, VMware Vsphere 5.1 & 5.5, McAfee antivirus, EMC storage
- Cisco Workshop: on 9th December 2010 (unified communications update, LAN update, Cisco Services, wireless update, best practices and digital media suite).
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 10/31/86
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: Lebanese
- Marital Status: Married (2 Childrens)
References
References available upon request
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 5 staff members.
- Collaborated with team of 30 in the development of the opening of Marriott Marquis and Hilton Dubai Creek.
- Documented and resolved all IT Infrastructure related which led to smooth opening of both hotels.
Timeline
Cluster Director of IT
Marriott Marquis Dubai & Hilton Dubai Creek
12.2023 - Current
Cluster Director of IT
Amwaj Rotana JBR, Arjaan Media City, Centro Barsha
07.2017 - 12.2023
Director of IT
Yas Island Rotana And Centro Yas Island
07.2011 - 07.2014
Director of Information Technology, Assistant Director of IT
Rotana Yas Island and Centro Yas Island
05.2010 - 07.2011
IT Staff Assistance
Raouche Arjaan by Rotana
09.2009 - 10.2009
IT coordinator
Gefinor Rotana Hotel
04.2009 - 04.2010
Technician
Prime Reference
04.2009 - 04.2009
Technician
Smart Waves
12.2008 - 03.2009
IT Department
MATELEC GHORFINE
06.2007 - 08.2007
Director of Information Technology
Amwaj Rotana
7 2014 - 07.2017
BS in Information Technology -
U.S.E.K_Kaslik Lebanon
High school (life science) - undefined
Ecole Sainte Famille des Sœurs Maronites Batroun, Lebanon
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